Civics and Economics Review Questions Mrs. A. LeRoux

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Civics and Economics Review QuestionsMrs. A.
LeRoux
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What are the four fundamental political
principles that have shaped government in the
United States?

• Limited Government
• Popular Sovereignty or consent of the governed
• Separation of Powers
• Federalism

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What does Consent of the Governed mean?

• People are the source of the governments power

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What is Limited Government?

• Government is not all-powerful and may do only
  those things people have given it power to do

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What does Separation of Powers mean?

• Power divided between three branches of government

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What is Federalism?

• Power is shared between the national government
  and state governments

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What are the Charters of the Virginia Company?

• Rights of Englishmen are guaranteed to the
  Colonists

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What is the Virginia Declaration of Rights?

• Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the
  Constitution

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What are the Articles of Confederation?

• Established the first form of government for the
  states after the Revolutionary War
• Power stays with the states
• Weak Central Government

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What were the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation?

• Congress had no power to tax
• Congress had no power to enforce law

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What is the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom?

• Individuals have freedom of religious beliefs and
  opinions

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What is the United States Constitution?

• Establishes the structure of the United States
  government

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What is the Bill of Rights?

• Guarantees the rights of the people

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What is the Preamble?

• The introduction to the Constitution that
  expresses the people have the right to rule
  themselves

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What are the four main goals of the Preamble?

• To form a more perfect union
• to establish justice
• to ensure domestic peace
• to provide defense

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What does the 14th Amendment say?

• All persons born or naturalized in the United
  States are citizens and shall receive equal
  protection under the law

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How may a person become a citizen of the United
States?

• Birth
• Naturalization

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What are the five basic freedoms of the First
Amendment?

• Freedom of Religion
• Freedom of Speech
• Freedom of Press
• Freedom of Assembly
• Freedom of Petition

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List four duties of a citizen.

• Obey laws
• pay taxes
• serve in the armed forces if called upon
• serve on a jury or as a witness in court

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What are some responsibilities of citizens?

• Vote
• communicate with government officials
• volunteer
• participate in political campaigns
• respect rights of others

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What are some good traits of citizens?

• Trustworthiness and honesty
• courtesy and respect for the rights of others
• respect for the law
• patriotism

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What are four functions of political parties?

• Recruit and nominate candidates
• help candidates win elections
• monitor actions of office holders
• educate public about issues

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What are four strategies for evaluating campaign
speeches, literature, and advertisements for
accuracy?

• Separation of fact from opinion
• detecting bias
• evaluating sources of information
• identifying propaganda

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What are three qualifications to register to vote
in the state of Virginia?

• Must be a citizen of the United States
• Must be a resident of Virginia
• Must be 18 years of age

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How can you register to vote in the state of
Virginia?

• In person at the registrars office
• at the Division of Motor Vehicles
• By mailing in an application

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What are three factors in predicting which
citizens will vote?

• Education
• Age
• Income

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Who selects the President and Vice President of
the United States?

• The Electoral College

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What are the three levels of government?

• National
• State
• Local

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What are the responsibilities of the national
government?

• Conduct foreign policy
• regulates commerce

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What are the primary responsibilities of the
state governments?

• Promote public health
• promote public safety
• promote public welfare

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What are the three branches of government?

• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial

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How often does the Virginia legislature make a
budget?

• Every two years (biennial)

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What is judicial review?

• The power of the Supreme Court to decide whether
  or not a law is constitutional

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What Supreme Court case established the principle
of judicial review?

• Marbury v. Madison

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What is the system of checks and balances?

• Gives each of the three branches of government
  ways to to limit the powers of the other branches

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List some examples of legislative powers over the
executive branch.

• Override vetoes
• impeach a president

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List one example of a legislative powers over the
judicial branch.

• Power to approve federal judges

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List one example of an executive power over the
legislative branch.

• Veto bills of Congress

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List one example of an executive power over the
judicial branch.

• Appoint federal judges

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List one example of a judicial power over the
executive and judicial branches of government.

• Declare laws unconstitutional

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What are two ways the Constitution of the United
States can be ratified?

• Action by the United States Congress or
  convention
• Ratification by the states

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What does bicameral mean?

• Two house legislature (example the United States
  Congress)

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What is normally the final step in a bill
becoming a law?

• Presidents signature

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What type of legislature is the Virginia Assembly?

• Bicameral

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What is the State of the Union Address?

• Annual address to Congress outlining the
  Presidents goals for the future

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What are some ways the media influences our
government?

• Focusing public attention on selected issues
• Holding government officials accountable for
  their actions

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What is Lobbying?

• Seeking to influence legislators to introduce or
  vote for or against a bill

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What are some ways to influence government?

• Voting
• lobbying
• writing letters
• joining interest groups

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What kind of cases are heard in Juvenile and
Domestic Relations Court?

• Juvenile and Family Matters

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What type of jurisdiction does the Supreme Court
have?

• Appellate and Original

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What does Marbury v. Madison say?

• Established the principle of judicial review

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What is the highest authority in the land?

• The Constitution

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What is due process of the law?

• The Constitution protects citizens against unfair
  government actions and laws

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What is scarcity?

• The inability to satisfy all wants

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What are resources?

• Factors of production that are used in the
  production of goods and services (example trees,
  silver, water)

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What is opportunity cost?

• What is given up when a choice is made.

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What is supply?

• The amount of a good or service that producers
  are willing and able to sell at a certain price.

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What is demand?

• The amount of a good or service that consumers
  are willing and able to buy at a certain price.

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What is a command economy?

• An economy in which the government owns all the
  property and resources (examples CHINA and
  Former Soviet Union)

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What is a mixed economy?

• An economy in which the government and
  individuals are principle decision makers
  (examples United States and Japan).

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What is a Proprietorship?

• A form of business organization with one owner.

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What is a Partnership?

• A form of business organization with two or more
  owners.

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What is the Federal Reserve System?

• Acts as a bank regulating the amount of money in
  circulation.